Elastic fluid generator



Dec. 5, 1933. A. R, SMITH ELASTIC FLUID GENERATOR Filed Dec. 1, 1932 Inventor: Arthur RSmith,

by H is Attorney.

Patented Dec. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES 1,938,358 PATENT OFFICE ELASTIC FLUID GENERATOR Arthur R. Smith, Schenectady, N. Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of erators which comprises a plurality of tubes, conduits or like heating elements lining the wall or walls of a furnace for heating and evaporating 0 three heating tubes for each element. portions of the tubes of each element are united liquid passed through the tubes.

Heat is transmitted to the heating elements by radiation and conduction. To prevent excessive temperatures of the furnace wall or walls the heating elements are spaced somewhat from these walls. It is also necessary to provide clearance between the adjacent heating elements for permitting relative sidewise expansion between adjacent elements. These clearances, however, permit ashes and slag to enter the space defined between the heating elements and the furnace wall.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement of heating elements in an elastic fluid generator of the type above specified in which the amount of slag and ashes entering the space between the heating elements and the furnace wall through the gaps between adjacent heating elements is considerably minimized.

For a consideration of what I consider to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the following description and the claim appended thereto in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 represents a cross section through a plurality of heating elements constructed and arranged in an elastic fluid generator in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 illustrates the heating elements together with a portion of the furnace wall; and Fig. 4 illustrates a modification according to my invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, a plurality of heating elements 10, 11, 12 are provided adjacent each other, lining a furnace wall 13 and defining a space 14 therewith. The heating elements are of the type which may be advantageously used in connection with mercury boilers as shown in the copending application of A. J. Nerad, Serial No. 628,519, filed August 12, 1932. Each heating element comprises an outer shell 15 of corrugated sheet metal and a plurality of heating tubes or pipes 16. In the present instance I have shown The end ted to the corrugated portion from any suitable source of heat by radiation and conduction. These heating elements are described more in detail in the Patent No. 1,866,367 to Nerad. Adjacent heating elements 10, 11, 12 are spaced from 1932. Serial No. 645,264

each other,-thus defining gaps 19, respectively between them for permitting sidewise expansion of the elements. To minimize the amount of slag and ashes which may enter the space 14 through these gaps, means are provided in accordance with my invention for sealing the gaps and at the same time permitting relative sidewise expansion between adjacent heating elements.

In accordance with the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, I unite a member 21 with one end portion of each shell. These members 21 form in substance extensions of one end of each shell, the end being bent at a right angle to the adjacent portion of the shell and slidably engages or overlaps the rear portion of the adjacent heating element.

Whereas in Fig. 1 each element has an outer shell provided with a sealing extension at one end of the shell, I provide in accordance with the embodiment of Fig. 4 alternately heating elements 25 and heating elements 26. The heating elements 25 have outer shells provided with extensions 27 at both ends of the shell and heating elements 26 have outer shells without such extensions.

With my invention I have accomplished a simple and reliable construction and arrangement for heating elements in elastic fluid generators such as may be used for producing mercury vapor. The clogging of the space defined between the heating elements and the furnace wall is effectively prevented.

Having described my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

In an elastic fluid generator, the combination of a furnace wall, a plurality of fluid heating elements lining the wall, each element comprising an outer shell, a plurality of tubes for containing fiuid spaced within the shell and filling material of high heat-conductivity in the space defined between the shell and the tubes, the shell comprising a single trough-shaped, corrugated sheet of metal having a bent edge portion overlapping an edge of the shell of an adjacent element for preventing slag entering the space between the elements and the furnace wall.

ARTHUR R. SMITH. 

